Driver charged for striking trooper

ESSEX, Md. (WUSA9) -- Maryland State Police say a trooper is recovering from injuries he suffered after his patrol car was struck by a vehicle Monday morning while investigating a crash.

Police tell us that 28-year-old Trooper First Class Christopher Hall, a 10 year veteran assigned to the Golden Ring Barrack, was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The driver was identified as 63-year-old Vicente Lopez-Calixto, of Baltimore. Police say he was charged with several traffic violations including violations of the move over law and failing to control the speed of his vehicle to avoid a collision.

Police say shortly before 6:30 a.m. Monday, Trooper Hall was investigating a crash on the outer loop in the area of Maryland Route 702 in Baltimore County. His marked car was stopped with its emergency equipment activated in the left lane to secure the crash scene. As Hall was sitting in his vehicle waiting for the scene to be cleared, a Dodge Stratus struck the back of Hall's vehicle, say police.

There is no evidence of alcohol or any substance being factors in this crash, according to police. They continue to investigate the crash.